Phlebotomist Jorge Hernandez, from the New York Blood Middle, left with repeat donor, Michelle, and NYS Senator Kevin Parker on the sixth Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive, in collaboration with the Sons of Kings Lodge #123, in Fellowship Corridor of Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church, on Sep. 21.
Picture by Tangerine Clarke
Residents turned out of their numbers on Saturday, Sept. 21, to donate blood on the sixth Annual Edward Swire Memorial Blood Drive, because of NY State Senator Kevin Parker, who collaborated with the Sons of Kings Lodge #123 for the push as Nationwide Sickle Cell Consciousness Month closes.
The politician who has offered the drive at Vanderveer Park United Methodist Church for the previous 4 years joined phlebotomists from the New York Blood Middle, workers, and associates within the Fellowship Corridor for the midday — 6 p.m. initiative, chaired by Dr. Brandon Carmouche.
Sen. Parker, a member of the Kings Lodge #123, which is part of essentially the most Worshipful Prince Corridor Grand Lodge of the state of New York, was happy to accomplice with the group, and thanked Reverend Boon, additionally a member of the lodge, for the usage of the church corridor, including that, “an hour of your time can save anyone’s life for his or her total life.”
“September is Sickle Cell Consciousness Month, and this blood drive is across the concern of Sickle Cell. Typically, blood donations are down, and we wish to carry consciousness that the illness is one through which the individuals who endure from it should get frequent blood transfusions.”
“Sickle Cell impacts primarily individuals of colour and of African descent. I don’t have the illness, however I’ve the trait. A part of it speaks to me as a result of my aunt handed away from the illness. She was the primary particular person I keep in mind that died of Sickle Cell,” stated Sen. Parker, including that this was the emphasis for him by way of offering sources for and bringing consciousness in “our group.”
He stated the partnership is crucial as a result of the illness disproportionately impacts individuals within the black group. “We do that blood drive yearly to get donations,” stated the politician.
The New York Blood Middle is the group that collects, categorizes, and does all of the work round blood donation. He stated the sponsors are vital to the logistics, offering the snacks and the technicians who acquire the donations.
He stated anybody can donate, however totally different varieties of individuals have to donate as a lot as doable, noting that no matter totally different ethnic classes, there’s nonetheless a blood match. Aside from individuals with O-positive markers who’re common donors, whereas some individuals are common receivers.
This blood drive outreach program is near the lawmaker’s coronary heart. He has the Sickle Cell illness marker along with shedding his aunt to the illness again within the 70s.
Sen. Parker actively offers packages to reinforce his twenty first District. He’s educated concerning the subject and spoke passionately about blood donations, accumulating all sorts of blood, and antigens in some blood varieties that may be useful.
“We should donate blood actually because the life span is just 42 days,” he stated, noting that individuals might give each 56 days, and repeat donors might solely donate a number of occasions a 12 months. He can now not donate blood after donating over a gallon in his lifetime. As such, the politician as an alternative provides his time at common drives in the neighborhood.
He stated that along with Sickle Cell Anemia sufferers, there are accident victims and individuals with different sicknesses who want blood, and he referred to as on the group to donate blood as typically as they will.
Phlebotomist Jorge Hernandez stated it’s crucial to donate blood as a result of not all people on the planet can. He defined that many individuals fall underneath sure standards, like being in danger for sure ailments or sicknesses, and might’t donate.
“Earlier than any blood is pumped out, we take a pattern tube and check your blood earlier than sending it out to individuals who want it. Throughout the purification course of, we filter the blood between totally different elements of blood and the white and purple blood cells, after which we ship it to separate individuals who want it particularly.”
He famous that if somebody wants platelets or blood cells, we ship them these elements.”
“Three lives might be saved with one donation,” he stated, including that an individual can donate each two months.”
He defined that one donation of a complete blood process takes about twenty minutes, noting that technically, “you may give lower than one pint for testing, however for a full transfusion, one pint of blood is required.”
Hernandez additional defined that the drive additionally collects donations for various procedures, such because the double blood cell process, the place the machine filters out blood between the totally different elements, corresponding to platelets, plasma, and purple cells. The machine then retains the blood cells however pumps again the platelets and plasma into the arm.
“We use that process for Leukemia sufferers, open coronary heart surgical procedures, and untimely infants as a result of these instances want excessive oxygenated blood.”
For these procedures, individuals can donate blood each 4 months,” he stated.
Repeat donor Michelle stated she ate a hearty breakfast earlier than donating blood. She described the method as a fast fifteen minutes and stated she felt nice afterward. “Each time you possibly can donate, you need to. That is my means of contributing,” she stated.
Kamla Millwood, president and proprietor of Palatial Publishing LLC., additionally donated a pint of blood.
Different phlebotomists and technicians had been Sharon, Janet, Vanessa, and Kevin. Miss Full Figured USA NY 2024, Leneth Yessenia Buzzele, a Brooklyn Leaders Lions Membership member, volunteered.
To study extra about donating blood, go to the New York Blood Middle web site at www.nybc.org.
